Chapter 166: Chapter 117: Combined Killing Techniques, Shadow Flame Upgrade, Reviving the Shadow Beast (4K)_2
On the third attempt, he was far too focused on maintaining the Eye-Penetrating Flow, causing the Shaking Star Fire to spiral out of control. His boiling blood, carrying Soft Power within, invaded every part of his body, leading to severe internal bleeding.
On the fourth attempt, he forcefully tried to control the True Dragon Inner Strength within his body to continue powering the two major moves even when things had already gone wrong. This led to the Power surging into his eyeballs and his optic nerves exploding; he became blind.
The fifth time...
Just like that, Xue Jing, relying on the fact that this was a Consciousness Simulation, unhesitatingly conducted various bold experiments. While he destroyed his body, he also made rapid progress in mastering the 'Double Kill Fusion'.
Over half an hour later.
Xue Jing's dragon eyes and vertical pupils were open, as on his right arm, skin bubbled up as though boiling water was beneath it, with countless small bumps rising and falling back down.
The blood within his body boiled and burned. Despite signs it might spiral out of control, he maintained a firm grasp on it.
After a dozen seconds, he finally managed to use the Shaking Star Fire's Channeling Energy completely.
Powerful Soft Power gathered at the edge of his right fist. In the vision granted by the Eye-Penetrating Flow, Xue Jing targeted a dim 'point' on the chest of Wei Chu in front of him.
"—— Shaking Star Fire."
He threw his right fist, which seemed to carry a few sparks, cutting through the air and blasting forward.
His fist made contact with Wei Chu's chest, and all the Energy poured precisely into that 'point'.
Though Wei Chu was equipped with a Protective Membrane known to offer excellent defense against the Power of Martial Artists and prevent the invasion of Soft Power, this time it failed to hold back the attack.
While still nearly half of the Power was blocked by the Protective Membrane, the other half successfully followed that 'point' into Wei Chu's body.
"Gurgle—— Pfft——"
After a series of strange noises, Wei Chu's chest suddenly inflated like a balloon, filled with all manner of rustling and peculiar sounds within.
Then, it deflated once more.
His ears, eyes, nose, and mouth all began to bleed at the same time, followed by a retching noise as he vomited.
Wei Chu expelled numerous pieces of broken flesh, and then his body fell forward into a pool of blood on the ground, clinging to life.
Xue Jing nodded his head.
"Not bad."
Although he was still far from proficient and couldn't apply it in actual combat, he had at least succeeded in using it.
Eye-Penetrating Flow + Shaking Star Fire.
Xue Jing stretched languidly, feeling slightly tired.
He calculated the time; the Consciousness Simulation had already gone on for over half an hour.
"There's still some leeway left... Even though that was half an hour of high-intensity operation."
Back at Lv4, the 'Visualization True' would last for about half an hour before leaving him feeling spiritually drained and dizzy.
After leveling up, the simulation had become not only more realistic but also lasted longer.
Xue Jing continued to train for a while longer until about ten minutes later, when he started to feel his spirit drying up. He then exited the Consciousness Simulation.
Upon opening his eyes, he pressed his temples and rested for a while before opening his panel.
[...Hidden Dragon Energy Experience Points +339]
[...Visualization True Experience Points +267]
After closing the panel and taking a short break, Xue Jing began his daily Armor Shaking Skill and Coiling Dragon Art practices.
Time slowly passed during the practice.
...
The next day, approaching noon.
"...No need, I will go to see my family first. After I gather with my family, I'll contact you."
"...Yes, thank you for your help."
In the apartment, Xue Jing lay on the bed, one hand holding the phone while the other gently stroked the back of Miao Miao, who was sprawled on his chest.
As his martial arts practice increased over time and strengthened his body control, his cat-petting skills also improved remarkably. At this moment, his slender fingers grazed Miao Miao's back, the gentle Power in his touch causing her fur to fluff up in bliss, eliciting pleased meows.
"...Let's leave it at that for now. We'll get in touch later."
After a round of polite conversation, Xue Jing hung up the phone.
"Was that the agent from Galaxy Club?" Miao Miao, enjoying the petting, lazily asked.
Xue Jing nodded and made a confirmation sound.
The person on the other end of the phone was the dedicated agent arranged by Wu Youqing to handle all the matters of his upcoming competitions in Maple City.
"Director Chen said he'll be able to reach Maple City before dark today, and when he does, I'll first go mooch a meal from my sister, and then take a stroll around Maple City to see if there's any fun places to visit,"
Xue Jing mentioned the plans to come.
Miao Miao yawned, her emerald vertical pupils clouded with sleepiness, looking as though she was about to doze off.
For some reason, she had been growing more and more sleepy lately.
Xue Jing smiled and gently stroked her fur with a lighter touch while his other hand picked up his mobile phone to check the news.
[...The U19 unrestricted elite fighting tournament Maple City elimination rounds are about to begin, with the list of participants to be published tomorrow along with the drawing ceremony... dark horse contestant Li Chengxuan said there's none who can fight him...]
[...Late at nine o'clock the day before last, the cruise ship 'Infinite Nova' was attacked by Sea Bee Swarm at the Intersecting Boundaries, miraculously no one died, and it turned out to all be because of a mysterious young man...]
[...As the 'Sky Pirates' grow increasingly rampant, Qingcheng Public Security Bureau Director Shang Mingyang, Maple City Public Security Bureau Director Xin Qingyun, Kangde Security Manager Guan Yingzhi, and Black Tide Security Manager Ye Si'an... issued a joint statement, vowing to wipe out the 'Sky Pirates' and return a clear blue sky to the Fifth Urban Circle]
...
After casually browsing the news and watching some funny videos for a while, Xue Jing put away his phone.
He then opened his panel and looked toward the Divine Skill column.
[Divinity held: 506]
When he last interacted with the 'Hundred Feet Pole's Top', he had gained over six hundred Divinity, used three hundred on Shadow Flame, leaving three hundred and sixty-eight.
In the following days, he spent time every night diligently shearing Divinity from Ning Fengwan, getting a few to a dozen points each day, plus an unexpected gain of eighty-two Divinity from killing the Sea Bee King, and finally.
His Divinity balance had returned to five hundred.
Xue Jing hesitated.
These five hundred points, should he save them, keep them for upgrading Twin Lifes, or...
His gaze turned toward Shadow Flame.
[Shadow Flame Lv3 (Divinity needed to upgrade: 506/500)]
When it came to the priority of using Divinity, Twin Lifes definitely came first.
Raising the cooldown reduction for the passive revival and adding an active effect to Twin Lifes were significant upgrades for each level.
But Shadow Flame... wasn't bad either.
The more he used this skill, the more he found it extremely handy.
Concentrating his gaze to acquire Dark Vision, wrapping Saber Qi to amplify attack range and damage, and even defending against weird 'Magic Damage' like 'Sound Wave' and 'Intense Light'.
He had a feeling that if he continued upgrading this skill, there would be many surprises.
"Hmm... Twin Lifes needs eight hundred Divinity to upgrade to Lv5, nearly three hundred points short, and I don't know when I'll be able to get that,"
Xue Jing felt a bit itchy.
Having money but not spending it feels frustrating.
"Forget it, let's upgrade Shadow Flame first, there's no pressing need for an active effect from Twin Lifes at the moment..."
Xue Jing clicked to upgrade [Shadow Flame].
[Shadow Flame Lv4 (Divinity needed to upgrade: 6/800)]
"Rumble——"
A mass of Dark Flame flared in his hand.
The moment he used it, Xue Jing felt a clear difference.
It was similar to when he first obtained Hidden Dragon Vigor and turned the Power into a True Dragon.
The Dark Flame in his hand, compared to its previously lifeless state, now seemed to have a sense of vitality.
It was as if it had come to life.
Xue Jing tossed the Dark Flame onto the floor in front of him as a hint of realization dawned on him.
Immediately after, with just a thought.
The Dark Flame that landed on the ground didn't explode into annihilation; instead, it changed and surprisingly transformed into a 'cat' identical to Ning Fengwan's feline form, composed purely of Shadow Flame.
The 'Shadow Cat's' four paws tread on flickering Dark Flames, and where its eyes should be, there were white voids. It licked its right paw with its mouth, then rubbed its face with its paw, the actions and posture incredibly agile and identical to those of a living cat.
And Xue Jing... hadn't directed it to make these movements; they were all done automatically.
Xue Jing curiously observed it, "Interesting... Shadow Flame has become animated, turning into a Shadow Beast?"
...